Cape Town - Expert reports from a state pathologist, an aeronautical engineer and a trajectory expert are expected to be crucial in providing a new perspective into what led to the death of anti-apartheid icon Imam Abdullah Haron.
Imam Haron’s family believes the reopening of the inquest into his death from November 7 to 18 will reveal the truth and help them find closure after years of seeking answers.
“We look forward to this Haron inquest hearing with the enthusiastic expectation that the truth will be revealed and that some closure for all of us in the Haron family and those close associates in the community will be reached.
“We have been in close contact with members of the SA National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the SAPS to prepare for the reopening of the inquest during November 2022.
“As a family, we are convinced that Imam Abdullah Haron was murdered by the Security Branch (SB); and for that reason, the magistrate’s findings as reflected in the 1970 inquest report are duly in question,” the imam’s family said in a statement.
Imam Haron was held in solitary confinement under the apartheid regime’s Terrorism Act for 123 days from Wednesday May 28, 1969 until Saturday September 27, 1969.
“During this period, we believe that he was interrogated by South Africa’s notorious SB and, based on other related cases, we will argue that known members of the SB used malicious and intolerable means in their attempt to extract information from our father.
“It is understood that these torturous techniques were learnt from the SB’s French counterparts who acted against Algeria’s freedom fighters,” the family added.
Throughout the 1960s, the Struggle icon had been co-ordinating with members in the underground networks, assisting families who lost their breadwinners for political reasons, the family said.
All the while, his movements locally and abroad were closely monitored and tracked by the SB.
The Imam practised a voluntary fast, in line with the Islamic tradition, every Monday and Thursday, which his family believe prepared him for the fateful period during which he was imprisoned.
“Let it be stated that 53 years have elapsed and we have not been officially informed how our father died at the hands of the SB on September 27 1969.
Despite the time that had passed by, we – the Imam’s children and grandchildren – are still determined to obtain the truth of our father’s murder.
“We remain optimistic that the 1970 inquest findings, which reached questionable conclusions, will be overturned after the November 2022 inquest is reopened.
“This is necessary for two reasons: the first is to underline that the apartheid regime and its state security operatives were responsible for our father’s murder; and two, that, as a family, the findings will bring us some sort of closure.
“It is worth noting that the Imam’s wife, our mother, Galiema Sadan-Haron passed on in 2019 without any formal admission of the truth behind her husband’s death.’’
In May this year Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola formally requested Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe to designate a judge to reopen the inquest into Haron’s death.
It was designated to Judge Daniel Mafeleu Thulare, formerly Chief Magistrate of the City of Cape Town, to preside at the forthcoming inquest, according to the family.
Lamola’s spokesperson Crispin Phiri said the renewed investigation into the apartheid crime would consider “expert reports from a state pathologist and an aeronautical engineer and a trajectory expert” to provide a new perspective into the probable cause of the death of Imam Haron.
“The Minister’s decision in terms of Section 17 A of the Inquest Act No 58 of 1959 follows an application by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for the reopening of the inquest, to help it determine whether the original court finding that Haron died as a result of falling down the stairs is true.”
The Apartheid Era Victims Family Group said it stood in solidarity with the Haron family.
“We are pleased that a date has been set for the inquest, which shows progress in the matter. Our collective hearts remain in mourning, deeply scarred by the past, and daily looking for that panacea that will ease the pain and restore our hopes.
“The reopening of this inquest is a step in that direction. And we look forward to a robust, thorough and truthful outcome.”
The families, however, criticised the government's slow pace in bringing them truth and justice.
“It remains a shame that so much further into the establishment of our democracy, families still remain unanswered about the death of their loved ones.
“It remains a shame that it takes fights, pressure and effort for the state to do what is right in dispelling the lies of the apartheid government into the death of our comrades, family members and community leaders.”
Cape Times